Song of the Day: Keep Shelly in Athens – Our Own Dream

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s selection, featured on the Midday Show with Cheryl Waters, is “Our Own Dream” by Keep Shelly in Athens from the 2011 EP Our Own Dream on Forest Family Records.

Nearly a year ago, almost to the day, we featured a mysterious group known as Keep Shelly in Athens for a Song of the Day podcast. Back then, there was very little information about the group that people weren’t even 100% sure actually was from Greece. Turns out they are a duo, they are indeed from the capitol city of antiquity, and the girl who appears in many of the press photos is actually the band’s singer, known only as Sarah P., and her shadowy companion is her partner and producer, RΠЯ (don’t ask us how to pronounce that). So far, they’ve released only a few EPs — today’s song comes from one of two 6-song 12” vinyl EPs on Forest Family Records, which are now unfortunately well sold-out — but the buzz around songs and remixes posted on the internet has built an international audience. In fact, Keep Shelly in Athens were able to pull together their first U.S. tour this fall and even stopped by KEXP for an in-studio session with a full band (listen here).

Today’s featured song is the title track to the most recent EP on Forest Family Records, and it while it’s not going to stop reviewers from kicking around the term “chillwave” to describe the band’s downtempo electronic vibe, the mood here is just a touch darker than on our previous featured song, “Running Out of You,” and draws an easy affinity with Portishead and Zola Jesus. As before, Sarah P.’s vocals are no less ethereal (and perhaps even more resonant that Beth Gibbons’), but RΠЯ’s beats punch through more exactingly and the keys swirl more hypnotically. “Our Own Dream” could easily bridge Neon Indian to Salem or White Ring in your next “late night mix.” If somehow Keep Shelly in Athens has managed escaped your attention before, don’t miss this alluring and mysterious band now.

You can listen to more music and keep up with Keep Shelly in Athens on their Facebook page and website, where they’ve already listed a few more U.S. dates for 2012. For now, here’s their latest single, “Struggle With Yourself,” from a brand new EP released on Planet Mu: